Metal sign



June 18, 1929. E. P WRIGHT METAL SIGN Filed Nov. 17. 1927 IMM/nto@ fighi/f EarZBWr Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES EARL P. WRIGHT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

METAL SIGN.

Application. filed November 17, 1927.

This invention relates to built up metal signs, such as name or number plates and the like, and to the method of making the same, whereby any desired name, number or character sign can be assembled in a few minutes at a very slight expense, so as to constitute a lirm, permanent and durable structure, whether used indoors, as an office or desk si gn, for example, or outdoors, as a house sign, a street sign, or an automobile name plate.

Each sign, in accordance with the present invention, is made up of a sheet metal backing plate or support, and a plurality of independent character members, of thinner sheet metal, slidably or otherwise mounted on said plate and permanently secured thereto by the folding over together of the edges, as will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a face view of a portion of the completed sign Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sign on line 3*-3 of Fig. l.

Figs. 4:, 5 and 6 are cross section views of signs illustrating ways of assembling them, and

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of a sign in the process of assembling the character members on the backing plate.

The backing plate 1, preferably of sheet steel, may have both its longitudinal edges initially straight or both bent over, but preferably has one edge only previously flanged over, as at 2 in Figs. l and 5. Each character member 3 may have both its top and bottom edges bent over, as shown at 5, 5, in Fig. 5, thereby enabling it to be slidably mounted on the 'backing plate l, or as shown in Fig. 4, each character member 3 may have only one edge initially bent over to form the hookshaped ange 5, which lits over the flanged edge 2 of the backing plate, while its lower edge is extended beyond the straight edge of the backing plate, over which it is folded in the subsequent assemblage. The backing plate may be slightly concavo-eonvex transversely, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Although the character members may have their lower edges initially unbent, vas in Fig. et, more satisfactory results are obtained when their lower edges are previously flanged, as at 5 at the bottom in Fig. 5.

To permanently secure the character mem-a bers thus mounted upon the backing plate to Serial No. 233,821.

the same and to cause the rear surfaces of the said members to closely hug the front surface of said plate, the combined edges of the latter and of said members are folded over together as shown in Fig. 2, the effect of which is 'to warp or stretch the members over and in Contact with the plate. In Fig. 7, the righthand side shows the edges engaged with a sliding fit, as in Fig. 5, while the middle part shows the top and bottom edges in process of being folded over, as at the top and bottom of Fig. 2, while the left-hand side shows both the top and bottom edges of the sign folded over to the completed position.' Fig. 2 illustrates a complete assemblage in which both edges of the sign are folded over butnot flattened into contact with the rear surface of the backing plate, which position is considered preferable. In Figs. l and 3, the rear faces of the members 3 are shown slightly spaced from the front face of the plate l, this spacing being somewhat exaggerated to more clearly show a valuable feature of my, invention, which consists in giving each vertical or side edge of the character members an inward or backward bend, as indicated at 7 in Figs. l and 3, whereby a very intimate contact of said side edges with the face of the plate is ensured, which prevents any gap or space being left between the members and obviates the possibility of water getting onto the plate between the said edges. It will be seen that, when the members having such bent down edges are tightly warped up against the face of the back plate by the folding over of their top and bottom edges, the side edges of said character members are forced laterally out, thereby increasing the tightness of the contact between the said members and also warping the said edges extremely tightly to the backing plate. This feature is not essential to the main invention, being unnecessary for indoor signs, for example, but it nevertheless constitutes an important feature in the manufacture of certain kinds of signs, particularly those for outdoor use.

In the form of Fig. 6, the iianged edges 4; of the character members and the straight edges of the plate l, are folded over together, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is a matter of but a few minutes to build up any desired sign by sliding or otherwise mounting on a backing plate, the requisite character members and then folding over the assembled edges. The backing plate can be cut off to the desired length of sign The angle, to which the initial flange or flanges of the backing plate is or are bent, may be so selected that the character members will be warped or pulled into contact with the backing plate with the necessary or desired degree of tightness.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. A built-up sign, consisting of a backing bar and a plurality of character members having their side edges depressed to contact the face of said bar and permanently secured thereto with their top and bottom edges interlocked With the edges of said bar.

2. A built-up metal sign, comprising a flanged backing bar and a plurality of flanged character members having their side edges depressed to contact the face of said bar and permanently tightly secured thereto with their top land bottom edges in folded interlocled engagement with the edges of said l bar.

contact the face of said bar, said members being permanently secured in tight contact With the face of said bar by the folded interloclied engagement of their edges with the edges of said bar.

4t. A built-up metal sign, consisting of a supporting bar having one of its edges bent over to form a flange, and a plurality of character members having one of their ends bent over to fit on said flange and their side edges depressed to Contact the face of said bar, whereby said members can be rigidly secured to saidbar by the folding over together of their other ends and the otheredge of the bar.

5. A built-up metal sign, eon'iprising a backing bar and a plurality of character members supported thereon, each of said members having one end initially bent over to lit on one edge of said bar and its side edges depressed to Contact the face of said bar, said members being permanently secured on said bar by the folded interloclced engagement of their other ends with the other edge of the bar.

In testimony whereof he has hereunto set his hand.

EARL P. WRIGHT. 

